Combined letter opener, paper knife, and seam ripper



May 6 1924.

F. R. DICKEY COMBINED LETTER OPENER PAPER KNIFE, AND slam RIPPER Filed Feb. 10 1923 Patented May 6, i924.

lAdLhZd entree stares rareur ethics.

FREDERICK R. DICKEY, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED LETTER OPENER, PAPER.KN I=FE, AND 'S EAM' BIPPER.

Application filed. February 10, 1923. Serial No. 618,315.

To (ZZZ 1112/10/72 i/ may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK R. DIoKEY,

k construction as to enable the utilization of discarded blades of safety razors, the device being pa I c-ularly adapted for use as a letter opener, a paper knife or for ripping seams.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature 01": the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodi ment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an implement embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is :a perspective view of the stem removed from the handle and extended, the full lines showing the normal position or' the blade and the dotted lines different positions of the blade when placing the same in position or removing it from thestem,

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the stem with the blade in position, and

lligure l is perspective View of end p01 tions of the members comprising the stem showing more clearly the matching recesses and projections.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of: the drawings by like referencecharacters.

lhe device comprises a handle 1, a stem 2 and a blade 3. The handle 1 may be of any construction and design and has an opening in which the stem 2 is detachably fitted,

ready The cross sectional outline and comprises com pleniental members t and 5 which are pivot ally connected at one end, as indicated at 6, the opposite end or the stem being insertahis in the handle 1, whereby to hold the members in proper position whenthe blade 3 is confined between them. One of the members is provided in its length with projections? and 8 and the companion member has corresponding recesses 9 and 10, the projection 7 being disposed at the pivot end of the members and the projection 8 a short distance therefrom. When the mem bers 4 and 5 are turned so as to he one against the other, the projections 7 and 8 enter the matching recesses 9 and 1 0 and en openings of theblade 3 and retain it in place between the members.

The blade 3 preferably consists of a safety razor. blade in which a series of openings 9 are formed to receive projections of the holder in a manner well understood. Usually three openings are formedin the blade 3 and the end openings are equally spaced from the middle opening. In the present instance, the projections 7 and 8 are spaced apart a di'stanc'eto receive the end openings of the blade 3;

In applying the blade, the members 4 and 5 are removed from the handle 1 and either is movedinto the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. Thefree end of the member is passed through one of the end openings in the blade 3 and theblade is moved along themembe'r 5 until the blade is in position to be swung into a position where the projection is received. in the end opening of the'blade through which the member 5 has passed. The member 5 is then swung on the pivot 6, and the parts brought into the full line position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, where the blade lies upon the member 4% with the projections 7 and 8 entering the outer and inner openings, as shown most clearly by the full lines in Figure 2. When the blade becomes dull or otherwise unfitted for further effective service, it may be discarded and replaced by another safety razor blade which is unfitted for shaving but well adapted for use as a letter opener, paper knife or seam ripper.

It will be noted that the stud 6, which pi'votally connects the members at and 5 of the stem, projects from the projection 7 which passes through one of the end openings in the blade 3. This structure permits an end portion of the blade 3 to extend beyond the stem 2, to present a scraping edge. The arrangement mentioned, wherein the end of the blade extends beyond the forward end of the stem, is of material advantage owing to the fact that the blade is flexible and may be pressed almost flat against any hard surface, as in the removing of paint from glass, or in removing a stamp from an envelope. It is further to be noted, that the members 4 and 5 forming the stem 2, are relatively narrow and fiat, and that there are no exposed edges or points to interfere with the use of the implement when the same is being used as seam ripper, paper knife or the like.

What is claimed is: i

1. A device of the character specified comprising a blade having spaced openings, a stem including a pair of complemental members between which said blade is adapted to be positioned, one of said members having spaced projections on its inner side to enter said openings, means carried by one of said projections and pivoting said members together, said blade adapted to be placed in position between said members by threading one of said members through an opening in the blade and having the opening through which the member is threaded receive the projection which carries the pivoting means. i.

2. A device of the character specified comprising a blade having spaced openings, a stem including a pair of complemental members between which said blade is adapted to be positioned, one of said members having spaced projections on its inner side to enter said openings, one of said projections arranged at the forward end of said members, means carried by the last mentioned projection and permanently pivoting the for ward ends of said members together to adapt said members for relative swinging movement in their respective parallel planes, and said blade adapted to be positioned between said members by threading one of said members through an opening in the blade and having the opening through which the member is threaded receive the end projection which carries the pivoting means.

3. A device of the class described comprising a stem including a pair of complemental members, one of said members having spaced projections on its inner side, a blade having openings to receive said projections, means pivoting the other of said members to one of said projections, and a removable handle receiving the rearward end of said stem and holding the parts of the device in position.

4. A device of the character specified comprising a stem including complemental relatively narrow bars, means pivoting said bars together at their forward ends, one of said bars provided upon its inner side with projections and the other of said bars provided on its inner side with matching recesses, a blade having openings in its length to receive said projections and one of said openings having the pivot means passing therethrough, said blade adapted to be clamped between said relatively narrow bars, the bars engaging a portion of the blade intermediate its longitudinal edges and extending beyond the rearward edge of the blade, and a handle detachably engaging the rearward ends of the bars, said handle engaging said bars to hold the parts of the device in position when assembled.

5. A device of the character specified comprising a handle, a stem including companion members having their rearward ends detachably connected to the handle, means pivotally connecting the forward ends of said members, a blade positioned between the members with the forward end of the blade projecting beyond the forward ends of the members, and means securing the blade between the members against movement relative thereto, the pivoting means for the members engaging one of the securing means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK R. DICKEY. Witnesses ELDA B. QUIGLEY, J. B. DICE. I j 

